News Release September 16, 2009
NLGJA News > News Releases > September 16, 2009

For Immediate Release: September 16, 2009
Media Contact: Bach Polakowski - 202-588-9888 or Bach@nlgja.org

NLGJA Convened Nearly 200 U.S. & Canadian Journalists & Allies
to Promote Fair & Accurate Journalism

Washington, D.C. – The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA), the leading group for LGBT journalists, media professionals, educators and students throughout North America, drew together nearly 200 journalists and allies at its recent National Convention and LGBT Media Summit. The convention ran Sept. 10-13 in Montreal, Canada. The event offered a broad range of workshops to develop and enhance participants' journalism skills, and also hosted thought-provoking discussions of LGBT issues and more.

“This important gathering of LGBT journalists was an unqualified success, attracting attendees from all corners of the Unites States and Canada,” said Michael Tune, NLGJA's managing director. “Our convention offered a great chance for learning and networking, but it also served as an opportunity to those leading the organization to reconnect with and reenergize our membership. This meeting strengthened our work to foster fair coverage of LGBT issues and fair treatment of LGBT journalists.”

The panels and sessions featured a wide-range of LGBT journalism stars and community members, including:

Broadway veteran Richard Jay-Alexander (who, for example, produced Miss Saigon)

Jon Barrett of The Advocate

Neda Ulaby of National Public Radio, and

Michelangelo Signorile, a host on Sirius/XM Radio.

One of the most popular sessions was entitled, “I'm Only Gay (Or Not) in Prime Time,” which weighed in on “American Idol,” “Glee,” LGBT actors playing “straight,” straight actors playing “gay” and more.

The convention also fostered the development of the next generation of journalists who will work to uphold NLGJA's mission of fair and accurate journalism. Eight journalism and communication students from across the United States were selected to participate in NLGJA's Student Project, which afforded them the opportunity to learn from successful journalists and report on both the convention and the surrounding city. The students highlighted their work with their collaborative Web site, http://nlgjaconvention.org/2009/ .

NLGJA will offer more coverage of last week's convention on its Re:Act blog, http://www.reacttoyournews.org/ , where bloggers will share the insights they gained.

Commenting on what's next for NLGJA, Tune said that 2010 marks NLGJA's 20th anniversary. Next year's convention will convene in San Francisco, where the organization was founded.

“Our organization is constantly evolving to meet our diverse memberships' needs,” Tune added. “2010 – our 20 th anniversary – provides us the chance to look back and look forward to advance LGBT journalism and fair and accurate coverage.”

About the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association

NLGJA is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students working from within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues. NLGJA opposes all forms of workplace bias and provides professional development to its members. For more information, visit the NLGJA Web site .